Department for Transport

Dangerous Driving

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to reduce the prevalence of reckless driving.

Andrew Jones: The Road Safety Statement published on 21 December 2015 outlines what the Department is currently doing to improve road safety. For example, we are currently consulting on increasing the penalty points and financial penalty for those who commit the offence of using a mobile phone whilst driving. We have previously introduced fixed penalty notices in order to assist the police in dealing more effectively with careless driving. This would enable more people to be offered rehabilitative education to combat such behaviour. Britain is a world leader in road safety, but we are always striving to improve. For example, from 2 March 2015 it has been an offence to drive with certain drugs in your body in excess of official limits. I have provided £1million to further increase enforcement during the THINK! campaign that commenced on 29 February and will run through March thus coinciding with the 1st anniversary of the commencement of the new offence. Sentencing and enforcement policy issues are matters for the Ministry of Justice and Home Office respectively.

Cycling: Safety

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 8 February 2016 to Question 25199, what steps his Department is taking to consult on proposed legislative changes on HGV sideguards; and what the timeframe is for that consultation.

Andrew Jones: The Department is currently preparing the regulatory impact assessment in preparation for the consultation on amendments to the Construction and Use Regulations in the second half of 2016.

M6: Tolls

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department plans to provide to (a) the public and (b) potential investors on the proposed sale of the M6 Toll Road.

Andrew Jones: The Department provides a wide range of information about the UK road network, including traffic counts for all major roads. However it does not plan to provide any information specifically on the proposed sale of the M6 Toll Road.

Shipping: Oil

Ian Blackford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will suspend the process of determining the application for the licence for ship-to-ship transfers in the Cromarty Firth until he has formally consulted Marine Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government.

Mr Robert Goodwill: There are no valid reasons to suspend the process of determining the application for an Oil Transfer licence for ship to ship transfers in the Cromarty Firth. Officials from Marine Scotland were sent the application details and information by email on 9 December 2015. A reminder about the deadline for comments on this application was sent to the same officials by email on 3 February, five days before the end of the extended consultation period. A Marine Scotland official confirmed to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on 11 February that they had seen the information and had no intention of submitting a response.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to carry out practical tests on the effect of a drone flying into a jet engine.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Commercial aircraft are already rigorously tested to withstand collisions with small objects, such as birds, but my Department and the Civil Aviation Authority are working with the aviation sector, including manufacturers, airports and airlines, to ensure our understanding of the potential hazards to aircraft remains up-to-date. This activity is also helping to provide real life evidence of drone risks and the options for preventing collisions.

Unmanned Air Vehicles: Registration

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a system of civilian drone registration similar to that used in the USA.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Officials from my department are talking to both the US and Irish authorities about the potential benefits of a registration scheme and impacts that such a scheme would have on the industry and how effective a registration scheme would be in improving transparency of ownership. However registration schemes are only as good as the enforcement mechanisms behind them. Government will be consulting on a range of options over the summer.

Roads: South East

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the costs is of each of the road projects outlined in the announcement of 1 December 2014, Major Roads Investment in London and the South East.

Andrew Jones: These projects are at various levels of maturity. Schemes which are now open to traffic and schemes in development/construction are shown below, with the actual out-turn cost and latest approved estimate respectively: Scheme NameEstimated Cost (£m)Scheme stageM3 junctions 2 to 4A174mIn constructionM4 junctions 3 to 12614 to 862mIn developmentM25 junction 3079.3mIn constructionA21 Tonbridge to Pembury69.7mIn constructionM20 junction 10a61 to 86mIn developmentA27 Chichester improvement122 to 181mIn developmentM25 junctions 5-6/7107.6mScheme completeM25 junctions 23-27157.6mScheme completeA23 Handcross to Warninglid80.7mScheme complete The Lower Thames Crossing has a current estimate of £4,300m to £5,900m. For the remaining schemes outlined in the 1 December 2014 announcement, the current costs are the cost category as quoted in the RIS Investment Plan, which can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/381496/roads-investment-strategy-summary-of-schemes.pdf For the Strategic Studies, there is no cost information.

Transport: Lasers

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received from transport organisations on the impairment threat of laser pens.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Ministers and Officials in the Department have received direct representations from the British Air Line Pilots’ Association (BALPA) on the threat to pilots from a laser strike. Further representations have been received through industry membership to the UK Laser Working Group. The Group which was established by the CAA to develop measures to reduce laser strikes to aircraft includes representatives from British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA), Honourable Company of Air Pilots, various airlines and airport operators, as well as Government Departments and Agencies.

Railways: Tickets

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the feasibility of train operators or Network Rail taking over the operation of train ticket offices previously operated by local authorities.

Claire Perry: No local authorities operate train ticket offices, therefore no such assessment has been made.

Southern: Performance Standards

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many passengers have received payments from Southern's enhanced compensation scheme since it's introduction as a result of the disruption caused at London Bridge from work on the Thameslink Programme.

Claire Perry: We do not hold this information as the operator is under no obligation to provide it to us.

Cycling

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many cycle lanes have been created in each local authority area in each year since 2010.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Department for Transport does not centrally hold figures for how many bicycle lanes have been constructed, as this is a matter for local areas. The Department has provided funding to local authorities to implement cycling schemes for instance through the Cycling Ambition Grants, Local Sustainable Transport Fund, Local Growth Fund and Integrated Transport Block.

Railway Network

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress has been made on Network Rail's Capacity Plus study; which industry groups have contributed to that study; and when he expects that study to be published.

Claire Perry: Network Rail is continuing work on its Capacity Plus study. Train operating companies and freight operating companies, passenger transport executives and local authorities, High Speed 2 Ltd and the Department for Transport are engaged in the study process. Network Rail will set a publication date in due course.

Highways England: Pay

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what bonus payments Highways England (a) staff and (b) Board members are entitled to receive.

Andrew Jones: Highways England renumeration scheme allows for performance related pay, as was the case with the Highways Agency. There is no automatic entitlement. Entitlement to a payment under this plan for staff (including Board members) is subject to corporate performance against pre-determined targets, aligned to the delivery of the Roads Investment Strategy, and individual performance. Performance related pay could be up to 20% of base salary, but this would only be in the case of outstanding performance by both the individual and Highways England.

Home Office

Sikhs: Radicalism

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has received a document from the Indian government on Sikh radicalisation in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Mr John Hayes: Holding answer received on 03 March 2016



The department has not received any documents on Sikh radicalisation in the UK from the Indian government.

Sikhs: Radicalism

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has received from Indian intelligence authorities on the subject of Khalistani terror groups and Sikh radicalisation in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Mr John Hayes: Holding answer received on 03 March 2016



It would not be appropriate to comment on intelligence matters.

Repatriation: EU Nationals

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many EU migrants left the UK because they had been on job seeker's allowance for three months and had not found a job in the last year.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Immigration Controls: Ports

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions a UK port was not manned by Border Force officials in 2015; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Transport: Lasers

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been (a) arrested and (b) prosecuted for shining laser pens at (i) road transport, (ii) train, (c) air transport drivers in each of the last five years.

Mike Penning: The Home Office does not hold data centrally on the number of arrests made for shining laser pens at road transport, train, or air transport drivers. The Home Office collects and publishes data on the number of arrests broken down by offence group and police force area. These data cannot be broken down to identify those arrested for misuse of a laser pen.The Ministry of Justice holds data relating to prosecutions. Data held centrally at the Ministry of Justice cannot be broken down to the level of detail requested. It is not possible to identify if a defendant was proceeded against for the misuse of a laser pen.

Firearms

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with representatives from shooting and conservation groups on the simplification of firearms legislation.

Mike Penning: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Asylum: Greater Manchester

Mr David Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers have been housed in each of the 10 authorities within the Greater Manchester area in each year since 2010.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Domestic Violence: Ethnic Groups

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will take steps to prioritise funding to ensure the continued provision of services by specialist BAME domestic violence charities.

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance she has issued to local authorities on the provision of specialist BME domestic violence services.

Karen Bradley: We are determined to ensure that all victims of domestic violence, including those from black and minority ethnic communities, have the same opportunities to access the criminal justice system and the appropriate support and services.The Government has already committed £40 million for domestic abuse services including refugees between 2016 and 2020, provided a £2 million grant to Women’s Aid and SafeLives to support a new domestic abuse early intervention project, protected funding of over £6.4 million to 86 female Rape Support Centres for 2016/17. We have also committed to a further year of funding to support the local provision of 144 Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs) and 87 Independent Sexual Violence Advisers for 2016/17.The Government will shortly publish an updated Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy which will set out how we will work with local areas and specialist charities to support all victims of VAWG, including black and ethnic minority victims.

Violent and Sex Offender Register: Children

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people aged under 18 are on the Violent and Sex Offender Register; and how many such people were added to that register in each year since 2010.

Karen Bradley: The Home Office does not hold this data.Statistical information from the ViSOR dangerous persons database is owned by the police, and the Home Office does not have access to this information.

Schools: Knives

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times the police have been called to investigate offences involving a knife or other sharp instrument within school grounds in each year since 2010.

Mike Penning: The Home Office does not hold this information.

Counter-terrorism: Children

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people aged under 18 have been referred to the Channel programme in each year since 2011.

Mr John Hayes: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Islamic State: Children

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the number of people aged under 18 who travelled to parts of Syria and Iraq controlled by IS/Daesh in each of the last two years.

Mr John Hayes: We believe approximately 800 UK linked individuals of national security concern have travelled to take part in the Syrian conflict since it began. Of those who are known to have travelled, about half have returned. This number will include some individuals who were under 18 at the point of travel.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Egypt: Freedom of Expression

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Egyptian counterpart on freedom of expression in Egypt.

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Egyptian counterpart on alleged human rights abuses in that country.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), discussed human rights issues in Egypt with President Sisi during his visit to the UK in November. He raised a number of concerns, including around the detention of political activists, mass trials and restrictions on freedom of expression. In recent months the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have continued to raise these issues with the Egyptian authorities. Most recently, Simon Gass, FCO Political Director, met the Egyptian Ambassador to London in February and raised our concerns on alleged human rights abuses.

EU Staff

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2015 to Question 1205, how many UK nationals are currently employed by the European Commission; and what proportion of the total number of Commission employees they represent.

Mr Philip Hammond: Holding answer received on 29 February 2016



The latest figures from October 2015 state that there are 1000 British citizens working in the European Commission as Permanent Officials and Temporary Agents, which represents 4.3% of the total. In addition there are 142 employed as Contract Agents.UK representation was at its peak in the late 70s but since then, it has been falling steadily across all EU institutions as UK officials retire and are not replaced by the same number of new UK entrants. The Government is committed to reversing this picture but recognises this will require sustained efforts over the long-term. The EU Staffing Unit, established in April 2013, works to promote EU careers across the UK and support candidates through the application process. It has increased secondments in positions of strategic importance to the UK. The European Fast Stream within the Civil Service has also been re-launched.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Cleaning Services

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the rate of pay is for cleaners in his Department.

Mr David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) contracts out cleaning services relating to the FCO's UK estate to Interserve as part of its facilities management contract. Interserve are responsible for setting rates of pay for their staff. They have informed the FCO that they currently pay £7.04 per hour to staff for cleaning the FCO’s buildings.The National Living Wage will come into effect on 1 April and all employers, including Interserve, will be required to pay all staff, aged 25 years and above a minimum of £7.20 per hour.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Human Rights Act 1998

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many civil law suits have been brought against his Department based either wholly or partially on grounds provided by the Human Rights Act 1998; how many such suits were settled out of court before a court judgment was delivered; and how much such settlements have cost the public purse since 2010.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The information requested is not available, as separate data for cases based wholly or partially on the Human Rights Act 1998 are not recorded.

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

Richard  Arkless: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, who will be eligible to vote in the forthcoming EU referendum; and for what reason he plans to exclude European citizens resident in the UK from voting in that referendum.

Mr David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Apprentices: EU Nationals

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2016 to Question 25652, whether EU nationals are able to apply for apprenticeships in England.

Nick Boles: An EU national can be employed in an apprenticeship in England, and will be eligible for funding for their apprenticeship provided they meet set eligibility criteria. These criteria are set out in the Skills Funding Agency: common funding rules for the 2016 to 2017 funding year.

Holiday Leave: Pay

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the financial effect on businesses of the decision in Loch v British Gas has on, including payments of bonus and commission in the calculation of holiday pay.

Nick Boles: Holding answer received on 01 March 2016



The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is continuing to monitor the impact of Lock v British Gas and other court decisions relating to holiday pay. We are undertaking a formal assessment of the financial impact and will make that available as and when there is a quality assured estimate.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Staff

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 16 July 2015 to Question 6424, what progress his Department has made on its internal review of employment status, launched on 6 October 2014.

Nick Boles: The internal review of employment status has now concluded.Ministers are carefully considering whether further steps are required to improve clarity and transparency for employers and individuals alike.

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to page 15 of the report, The process of withdrawing from the EU, published on 29 February 2016, if he will place in the Library a copy of the UK Schedules of Commitments with 161 WTO members which would have to be updated were the UK to leave the EU.

Anna Soubry: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what automatic access (a) the UK would have to the markets of other WTO members and (b) other WTO members would have to the markets of the UK if the UK leaves the EU.

Anna Soubry: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

UK Trade with EU

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the balance of trade between the UK and the rest of the EU was in (a) sugars and confectionery, (b) beverages and tobacco, (c) animal products, (d) cereals and preparations and (e) fish and fish products using the same definitions as in the presentation of information on page 15 of The process of withdrawing from the EU, in the last year for which data is available.

Anna Soubry: The trade balance between the UK and the rest of the EU in the above commodity groups in 2015 is given in the table below. These figures are sourced from HM Revenue and Customs’ Overseas Trade Statistics database and based on the same definitions as in the presentation of information on page 15 of ‘The process of withdrawing from the EU’. Commodity (HS commodity code)  UK trade balance with the EU (£ million), 2015Sugars and confectionery (HS 17)-451Beverages and tobacco (HS 2009, 2201-08)-1,969Animal products (HS 01, 02, 1601-02)-3,465Cereals and preparations (HS 0407-10, 10, 1101-04, 1107-09, 19, 2102-06, 2209)-2,729Fish and fish products (HS 03, 0508, 051191, 150410, 150420, 1603-05, 230120)+84Source: HM Revenue and Customs Overseas Trade Statistics database

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: North East

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many core staff of his Department are based in each location in the North East of England.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Postgraduate Education: Social Work

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many graduates began a Masters degree in social work in each year since 2010.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Pay

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the average salary is of officials at (a) Senior Civil Service and (b) all other grades at (i) St Paul's Place, Sheffield and (ii) 1 Victoria Street, London.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Buildings

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the average cost of floor space is at his Department's office at (a) St Paul's Place, Sheffield and (b) 1 Victoria Street, London.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Buildings

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what annual rent his Department paid at (a) 1 Victoria Street, London and (b) St Paul's Place, Sheffield in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department took to evaluate the effectiveness of the 2009 car scrappage scheme.

Anna Soubry: The National Audit Office published a report in 2010 which evaluated the measures taken by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills to support businesses through the recession. It describes what support schemes were put in place and how effectively they were conceived, implemented and managed, including the Vehicle Scrappage Scheme.

Wales Office

Wales Office: Cleaning Services

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what the rate of pay is for cleaners in his Department.

Alun Cairns: Cleaning services within the Wales Office are undertaken by outsourced providers under Ministry of Justice contracts. Rates of pay for cleaners are determined by their respective employers and not held by the Wales Office or Ministry of Justice. All employers are obligated to pay at least the National Minimum Wage and the new National Living Wage from April 2016.

Department for Education

Department for Education: Overtime

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much her Department has paid to staff in overtime in each of the last 24 months.

Nick Gibb: The amount spent on overtime payments to Department for Education staff, for the period 1 February 2014 to 31 January 2016.January 2016£38,582December 2015£44,893November 2015£44,199October 2015£37,132September 2015£26,742August 2015£26,380July 2015£40,209June 2015£36,238May 2015£24,935April 2015£27,064March 2015£75,077February 2015£46,706January 2015£42,115December 2014£44,897November 2014£47,101October 2014£40,816September 2014£34,065August 2014£35,993July 2014£54,989June 2014£45,488May 2014£53,055April 2014£36,765March 2014£64,346February 2014£53,992These figures are for the core Department and cover payments to employees and to contingent labour. Those provided for the period April 2015 to January 2016 are as yet unaudited.All employees on Department for Education contracts from grades EA to SEO are entitled to overtime payments. Grades 7 and 6 are not entitled to overtime but can claim discretionary payments for exceptionally long hours.Overtime costs are typically around 0.5% of the total monthly payroll.

Department for Education: Human Rights Act 1998

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many civil law suits have been brought against her Department based either wholly or partially on grounds provided by the Human Rights Act 1998; how many such suits were settled out of court before a court judgment was delivered; and how much such settlements have cost the public purse since 2010.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is not available because separate data for cases based wholly or partially on the Human Rights Act 1998 are not recorded.

Schools: Standards

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the role of the local authorities is in identifying poorly performing schools.

Nick Gibb: Local authorities have a number of statutory powers they may use in maintained schools that are “eligible for intervention”. These powers are described in more detail in the Schools Causing Concern guidance, available on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/469299/Schools_causing_concern_draft_guidance.pdfSchools are “eligible for intervention” where they have been judged as inadequate by Ofsted, where they have failed to comply with a warning notice or where - following 2016 results – they fall within the definition of coasting. Local authorities have powers to give warning notices to maintained schools where they have concerns about unacceptable performance (e.g. where a school is below floor standards), where there has been a breakdown in leadership and governance, or the safety of pupils or staff may be being threatened.We ran a public consultation during October to December 2015, which sought views on draft revisions to the Schools Causing Concern guidance in light of the Education and Adoption Bill. The consultation response and the revised Schools Causing Concern guidance will be published shortly.

Department for Education:  Cleaning Services

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the rate of pay is for cleaners in her Department.

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the rate of pay is for cleaners in the Government Equalities Office.

Nick Gibb: The hourly rate of pay for cleaners working in buildings managed by the Department for Education is between £7.85 and £9.15 depending on location and duration of tenure.The Government Equality Office is based within buildings managed by the Department for Education, and therefore the same rates apply.From 1 April 2016, the rate of pay will be increased to the 2016 Living Wage Foundation rates.

Department for Education: Consultants

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many consultants' contracts were terminated early in each of the last six years for which figures are available; and what the cost of each such termination was in each of those years.

Nick Gibb: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Education

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children of service personnel are currently receiving education in (a) local authority schools, (b) academies and (c) free schools in England.

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children of service personnel are currently in mainstream education in England.

Nick Gibb: The Department does not publish data on numbers of service children currently receiving education.

Schools: Migrant Workers

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential effect on the number of school support staff who are from non-EU countries of the salary threshold increase for Tier 2 visa applications to £35,000.

Nick Gibb: The requested information is not available. The Department does not collect data on the nationality or the immigration status of the school workforce.This is a local matter for schools and all schools must employ members of the school workforce in accordance with employment law.

Schools: Admissions

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Prime Minister's oral contribution of 10 February 2016, Official Report, column 1576, what the evidential basis is for the statement that there are 47,500 fewer pupils in overcrowded schools than in 2010.

Edward Timpson: The department collects information from each local authority on the number of schools, the number of places in those schools and the number of pupils on roll through the annual school capacity survey (SCAP). The data is published annually, and the main tables contain national and local authority level data. The latest published data, relating to the position as reported by local authorities at May 2014, can be found on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-capacity-academic-year-2013-to-2014Previous years are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-capacityIn both the 2014 and 2010 data publications, the table below shows capacity in state funded primary and secondary schools. In 2010 there were a total of 97,230 primary and secondary pupils in excess of capacity. In 2014 this had reduced to 49,717, meaning that 47,513 fewer pupils were excess of capacity in 2014 than in 2010.Number of pupils in excess of school capacityState-funded primary schools201041,680State-funded secondary schools201055,550State-funded primary schools201430,737State-funded secondary schools201418,980State-funded primary schoolsChange 2010 to 201410,943State-funded secondary schoolsChange 2010 to 201436,570  TotalChange 2010 to 201447,513

Schools: Finance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the consultation on a national school funding formula will begin.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The spending review announced our commitment to making school funding fairer by introducing a National Funding Formula for schools. Implementing such a large scale reform of the distribution of over £40 billion of education funding is a detailed and complex issue, and one we must get right. It is paramount that we consult with the public and sector, and we will set out, and consult on, our detailed plans for a National Funding Formula in due course.

National Curriculum Tests

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent representations she has received from teachers and teachers representatives on changes to assessment procedures at Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Ministry of Justice

Youth Custody: Cameras

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make it his Department's policy that all prison officers in youth facilities should wear body-mounted cameras.

Andrew Selous: The safety and welfare of young people in custody is vital and we take all incidents of violence extremely seriously. A pilot of Body Worn Video Cameras (BWVCs) is currently taking place across 24 prisons, including Cookham Wood, Feltham and Wetherby under -18 Young Offender Institutions. BWVCs are already in use at all Secure Training Colleges (STCs).

Ministry of Justice: Consultants

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many consultants' contracts were terminated early in each of the last six years for which figures are available; and what the cost of each such termination was in each of those years.

Mike Penning: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Ministry of Justice: Publications

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) publications, (b) consultation documents and (c) circulars his Department has issued since August 2012; and what the title was of each such publication, consultation document or circular.

Mike Penning: We publish consultations and other publications on GOV.UK. The list of pages published is available through a filtered search. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?keywords=&publication_filter_option=all&topics[]=all&departments[]=ministry-of-justice&official_document_status=all&world_locations[]=all&from_date=01%2F08%2F2012&to_date=

Prison Service: Pay

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with (a) NOMS and (b) the Prison Officers Association on evidence submitted to the Prison Service Pay Review Body on rates of pay for prison officers.

Andrew Selous: Each year the Prison Service Pay Review Body (PSPRB) considers evidence from both NOMS and remit group trade unions (PCS, the POA and the PGA), then makes pay recommendations which are independent of all parties as well as wider Government. I have met with NOMS officials and POA officials separately and together on a number of occasions.

Reoffenders

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners serving life sentences have been recalled to custody in each year since 2005.

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what average number of months life-sentenced prisoners who were recalled to custody in the last five years spent in prison before they were re-released.

Andrew Selous: The information you have requested in respect of the number of indeterminate sentence prisoners (ie those prisoners serving a life sentence or an indeterminate sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection - IPP) who have been recalled in each year since 2005 is available in the Ministry of Justice’s offender management quarterly statistical bulletin. This can be found using the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/offender-management-statistics-quarterlyThe figures in these tables have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.We are unable to provide the data on the average amount of time indeterminate sentence prisoners spend in custody following recall and before their re-release. Whilst this information is held on individual case files, the NOMS electronic case management system is unable to provide a report on the average period of time spent. In order to provide an answer it would be necessary to undertake a manual exercise looking at the case records of all indeterminate sentence prisoners during this period. Such an exercise would incur disproportionate costs.

Ministry of Justice: Cleaning Services

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the rate of pay is for cleaners in his Department.

Mike Penning: Cleaning services within the Ministry of Justice are typically undertaken by outsourced providers. Cleaners working within Ministry of Justice sites are therefore employed directly by these outsourced providers or their subcontractors and/or agencies. Rates of pay for cleaners are determined by their respective employers and not held by the Ministry of Justice. All employers are obligated to pay at least the National Minimum Wage and the new National Living Wage from April 2016.

Ministry of Justice: Human Rights Act 1998

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many civil law suits have been brought against his Department based either wholly or partially on grounds provided by the Human Rights Act 1998; how many such suits were settled out of court before a court judgment was delivered; and how much such settlements have cost the public purse since 2010.

Dominic Raab: It is not possible to provide the information requested. Litigants in civil cases can rely on arguments based wholly or partly on the Human Rights Act 1998. In some cases, the Act is relied on in addition to other claims. When the Human Rights Act came into force, no specific arrangements were put in place by the then government to record cases in the way requested. As a result, there are not currently data published which distinguish between cases where the Human Rights Act was or was not invoked.

Ministry of Justice: Overtime

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department has paid to staff in overtime in each of the last 24 months.

Mike Penning: The Department publishes overtime payment data on a monthly basis and the report can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/workforce-management-information-moj

Probate: Fees and Charges

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much accrued to the public purse in probate charges in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15.

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the annual cost to HM Revenue and Customs is of administering probate.

Caroline Dinenage: The Ministry of Justice is responsible for administering probate. The amount of fee income accrued to the public purse in probate fee charges (after remission) increased from £19m in 2013/14 to £41.5m in 2014/15 following fee increases introduced in April 2014. The annual cost to the Ministry of Justice of administering probate in 2014/15 was £42.5m.

Probate: Fees and Charges

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many times the charge for probate has been increased since 2010.

Caroline Dinenage: The fees payable on application for a non-contentious grant of probate have been increased twice since 2010.

Magistrates' Courts: Ormskirk

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether there is any mechanism by which the Lancashire justice area management team can seek to reverse the decision to allocate Skelmersdale criminal cases to Wigan Magistrates' Court.

Caroline Dinenage: Listing is a judicial responsibility and function. Any final decisions as to the allocation of work between court houses will be for the Lancashire and Cumbria Judicial Business Group (subject to the supervision of the Presiding Judges of the circuit) to make in due course.

Magistrates' Courts: Ormskirk

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has received any representations from senior officials in HM Courts and Tribunals Service seeking to reverse the decision for Skelmersdale criminal cases to be heard at Wigan Magistrates' Court.

Caroline Dinenage: No representations have been received from senior officials in HM Courts and Tribunals Service saying that Skelmersdale criminal cases should not be transferred to Wigan Magistrates’ Court.

Magistrates' Courts: Ormskirk

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the reasons were for his decision to allocate Skelmersdale criminal cases to Wigan Magistrates' Court after the decision to close Ormskirk Magistrates' Court; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Dinenage: The consultation proposed that work from Ormskirk Magistrates’ Court transfer to Preston.Responses received to the consultation highlighted that it would be easier to travel from Skelmersdale to Wigan Magistrates’ Court. Since there is capacity to hear this work at Wigan, when Ormskirk Magistrates’ Court closes, the majority of criminal workload originating from Skelmersdale will be heard at Wigan.

Female Genital Mutilation

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) police forces and (b) local authorities in (i) England, (ii) Wales and (iii) Northern Ireland have made applications for female genital mutilation protection orders to date.

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many girls have been issued with female genital mutilation protection orders to date.

Caroline Dinenage: Statistics on FGM Protection Orders are publicly available as part of the Family Courts Statistics Quarterly series at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/family-court-statistics-quarterly. FGM Protection Orders were introduced on 17 July 2015 and statistics are only currently available for the period 1 July to 30 September 2015. The number of applications made by police and local authorities in England were as follows: 5 applications were made by local authorities; and11 applications were made by police. No applications were made by local authorities or police in Wales. As justice is a devolved matter, statistics on the number of applications made for an FGM Protection Order in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive.

Judicial Review: Local Authorities

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many times local authorities in England have been subject to a judicial review of section 17 of the Children Act 2004 in each of the last five years.

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many applications for judicial review have been (a) made and (b) successful in each social services authority in England in each of the last five years.

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many applications for judicial review have been (a) made and (b) successful in respect of Children Act 2004 responsibilities in each local authority in England in each of the last five years.

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many applications for judicial review against local authorities in England related to those authorities' responsibilities under the Children Act 2004 have been (a) made and (b) successful in each of the last five years.

Caroline Dinenage: HMCTS does not collect data to the level of detail required to identify local authorities or social service authorities, or applications in respect of the Children Act 2004. The information can only be collated at disproportionate cost.

European Arrest Warrants

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total number of years is that offenders brought back to the UK under a European Arrest Warrant have been sentenced to in the last five years.

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders have been sentenced and imprisoned in the UK after having been returned to the UK under an European Arrest Warrant in the last five years.

Dominic Raab: This information is not held centrally and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The National Crime Agency publishes statistics on the operation of the European Arrest Warrant and these can be found here: http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/publications/european-arrest-warrant-statistics/wanted-by-the-uk-european-arrest-warrant-statistics/608-wanted-by-the-uk-european-arrest-warrant-statistics-2009-april-2015-1

Secure Training Centres: G4S

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his policy is on the sale by G4S of its Secure Training Centre contracts.

Andrew Selous: The decision by G4S will not have any direct impact on the day to day running of Secure Training Centres. G4S have committed to ensuring there is a smooth transition to new providers. We will work with G4S and the Youth Justice Board to make sure that happens.

Personal Injury

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the changes to personal injury law and procedure announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Autumn Statement with the European Convention on Human Rights; and if he will make a statement.

Dominic Raab: The Government will be consulting on the detail of the proposals in due course.

Motor Vehicles: Insurance

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2016 to Question 20350, on motor vehicles: insurance, what information his Department holds on which insurers have committed to pass on all savings to consumers as a result of the proposed changes to personal injury law.

Dominic Raab: Leading insurers have committed to give customers 100% of the savings made from new Government reforms to help slash the cost of motor insurance. Some have already made public their intention to do so.

Alcoholic Drinks: Rehabilitation

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people aged under 18 have been placed under an Alcohol Treatment Requirement in each year since 2010.

Andrew Selous: None. This is because the Alcohol Treatment Requirement only applies to adults as part of the community order or suspended sentence order.

Scotland Office

Economic Situation: Dundee

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with Ministers in the Scottish Government on the recent report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Uneven Growth: Tackling City Decline and its ranking of Dundee as seventh highest on its index of relative decline.

David Mundell: I am aware of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report and the issues it raises. The Government is committed to growing the economy across the UK and empowering Cities to realise their potential. Last week my Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Lord Dunlop, participated in a Jobs Summit in Dundee along with the Scottish Government, Dundee City Council and others aimed at boosting employment in the area and regenerating one of our finest Scottish cities. Following the summit we have committed to work with interested parties to drive forward investment in Dundee.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Broadband

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the state aid approval in relation to BDUK requires BT to provide Wholesale Open Access to other communication providers for ducts and poles built with BDUK funding which are (i) over one km in length and cost more than £50,000 to build and (ii) less than one km in length and cost less than £50,000 to build.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The UK 2012 state aid Decision applied different wholesale access conditions to new and existing infrastructure. On new infrastructure over one km in length and costing more than £50,000 to build, BT must provide access for any purpose, while on existing infrastructure and on new infrastructure less than one km in length or costing less than £50,000 to build, the primary use must be retail services (with business services only permitted where it supports the primary objective.) Both cases exceed what is required by Ofcom under regulation.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Health

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what his Department's wellness strategy is.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport's (DCMS) strategic approach to health and well-being reflects the wider Civil Service Priorities of mental health, musculoskeletal disorders and a healthy lifestyle. In 2014, DCMS signed up to the Department of Health’s Public Health Responsibility Deal to deliver pledges H1, 2, 3 and 7 under the Health at Work Pledge and P2 and 3 of the Physical Activity Pledge. We have made good progress against each of the pledges, and in 2015, we launched the ‘Get Active 2015’ campaign to encourage and help DCMS staff get fit and healthy. As part of this campaign we have actively promoted national events like “Walk to Work” week, the Mental Health Awareness Week and Movember to promote physical and mental well-being. DCMS also supports the Time to Change Programme. Signing up to this pledge is a public statement of our intent to support good health at work and tackle the stigma associated with mental health. We have used the “Time to Talk” days to promote early intervention. DCMS also hosts an annual Employee Week with a focus on employees’ physical and mental well-being and the support and benefits available to all employees. DCMS provides an Employee Assistance programme for all staff. This is a free confidential counselling and support service which offers practical information and resources on health and well-being issues.

Nuisance Calls

Patricia Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what his plans are for the £3.5 million funding announced for tackling nuisance calls in paragraph 2.289 of the March 2015 Budget, HC 1093 of Session 2014-15; how much of this funding has been allocated to which local authorities; what information his Department holds on the number of call blockers that this funding has paid for the installation of in domestic properties; and what assessment his Department has made of the effect of that funding in the volumes of nuisance calls received and reports of such calls made.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Government is taking forward a range of measures to tackle the problem of nuisance calls, including strengthening the regulators’ ability to take enforcement action against organisations that break the law and increasing consumer choice by consulting on making it a requirement for direct marketing callers to display their calling line identification. As part of the £3.5m package announced in budget, Government launched a competition for innovative solutions to tackle the scourge of nuisance calls - and contracts have been awarded to successful applicants, to help develop their products to launch on the open market and benefit customers right across the country. In addition, £0.5 million funding is going to the National Trading Standards Scams Team - via East Sussex County Council - to provide call blocking devices to vulnerable people nationwide and report its effects.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Overtime

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much his Department has paid to staff in overtime in each of the last 24 months.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Sums paid to Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) staff for overtime for the last 24 months, for which figures are available, were as follows:£000sJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember2014-5.110.92.66.84.37.323.77.07.13.710.820152.23.928.06.231.05.84.38.36.64.38.67.120166.3----------- DCMS is the smallest government department, with 509 full time equivalent (FTE) permanent employees (as of 31 January 2016). Overtime is a cost-effective way of managing peaks in workload in order to reduce the need for contractors or adding to the department's headcount. Annual expenditure on overtime accounts for just under 0.3% of the DCMS paybill.DCMS has responsibility for high profile policy, which includes staging national First World War commemoration events - this is reflected in our overtime figures for August 2014 and May 2015.Recent machinery of government changes has also seen DCMS take on additional policy areas, including the digital economy unit, digital inclusion, data protection, the sponsorship of the National Archives and the Information Commissioner. The figure for March 2015 reflects the addition of the 2014-15 total overtime cost for the Digital Economy Unit following its Machinery of Government transfer to DCMS; monthly analysis of this sum is not available.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Human Rights Act 1998

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many civil law suits have been brought against his Department based either wholly or partially on grounds provided by the Human Rights Act 1998; how many such suits were settled out of court before a court judgment was delivered; and how much such settlements have cost the public purse since 2010.

Mr Edward Vaizey: We do not have any information on civil law suits have been brought against the Department based either wholly or partially on grounds provided by the Human Rights Act 1998.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Cleaning Services

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the rate of pay is for cleaners in his Department.

Mr Edward Vaizey: DCMS shares premises with other Government Departments - HMRC and DfE - that are responsible for the employment and payment of cleaning staff.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Publications

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) publications, (b) consultation documents and (c) circulars his Department has issued since August 2012; and what the title was of each such publication, consultation document or circular.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The answer can be found by using the publicly available filters on GOV.UK:  The Department has published 692 publications. Details, with full titles of each publication, can be viewed at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?keywords=&publication_filter_option=all&topics%5B%5D=all&departments%5B%5D=department-for-culture-media-sport&official_document_status=all&world_locations%5B%5D=all&from_date=01%2F08%2F2012&to_date=The Department has published 60 consultations. Details can be viewed at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?keywords=&publication_filter_option=consultations&topics%5B%5D=all&departments%5B%5D=department-for-culture-media-sport&official_document_status=all&world_locations%5B%5D=all&from_date=01%2F08%2F2012&to_date=The Department has published no Circulars in the timeframe.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?keywords=circulars&publication_filter_option=all&topics%5B%5D=all&departments%5B%5D=department-for-culture-media-sport&official_document_status=all&world_locations%5B%5D=all&from_date=01%2F08%2F2012&to_date=

Children: Musical Instruments

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the extent of regional disparities in publicly-funded opportunities outside schools for children to learn musical instruments without charge; and if he will make an assessment of the effect of such disparities on the music industry.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Government invested £171m between 2012-15 in 123 Music Education Hubs to ensure that children aged 5-18 have the opportunity to sing or learn a musical instrument. A further £75m of funding was made available for 2015/16. We have subsequently introduced a new, fairer funding system which reflects both the total number of pupils and the number of pupils who are eligible for free school meals. This means hubs can target money towards pupils who need it most and local areas are now much more accountable for how they deliver music. Alongside Hubs, the Government has also introduced the In Harmony programme which inspires and transforms the lives of children through community-based orchestral music-making in areas of exceptional deprivation. Both of these programmes offer opportunities for children and young people in the local area to attend after school sessions to learn music.In addition, originally set up by DCMS and UK Music and now overseen by UK Music, we have helped to create 14 pilot music rehearsal spaces for young people in a range of urban and rural areas of England experiencing multiple deprivation. The funds were used to provide instruments and equipment, and contributed towards the cost of necessary capital works, such as sound proofing.

Broadband: Rural Areas

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with broadband providers on rural broadband provision.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Superfast broadband is available to nearly 90 per cent of homes and businesses in the UK, including urban and rural areas, and we are on track to reach 95% by the end of 2017, as set out in our manifesto. In addition, the Prime Minister announced the Government’s intention to implement a new broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO). This will give people the legal right to request an affordable broadband connection no matter where they live. I hold regular discussions with internet service providers on a wide range of issues. A number of communications infrastructure suppliers and service providers attended the recent not-spot summit on 3 February where the challenges for Government and industry for extending both superfast broadband and mobile coverage to all areas of the UK was discussed.

British Telecom: Broadband

Dr James Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will take steps to encourage BT to improve (a) the information it provides online about broadband roll-out, (b) the accuracy of its communications to residents about when cabinets will come on stream and (c) information about support residents can access in the event of delays in roll-out.

Mr Edward Vaizey: On 25 February Ofcom published their initial conclusions for the Strategic Review of Digital Communications including a range of measures to improve the quality of service delivered by the whole of the telecoms industry, including Openreach, BT’s access network division. Ofcom will work with industry to improve providers’ coordination and communication to benefit consumers, including detailed information about engineer visits for installation and fault repairs. Ofcom also plans to introduce tougher minimum standards of customer service for Openreach with rigorous enforcement and fines for underperformance. In addition, the regulator plans to publish annual performance data on all operators and will look to introduce automatic compensation for consumers and small businesses when service levels fall below minimum standards. BT recently launched a new website providing more detailed and accurate information to the public on broadband service in any given area - http://www.superfast-openreach.co.uk/where-and-when/

Department for Work and Pensions

Department for Work and Pensions: Cleaning Services

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the rate of pay is for cleaners in his Department.

Justin Tomlinson: Since 1998 the Department for Work and Pensions has outsourced the provision and maintenance for the majority of its estate to Telereal Trillium under a 20 year Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract that expires on 31 March 2018.Under the terms of the contract, Telereal Trillium provides fully-serviced accommodation, for which we pay an all-inclusive annual charge. Engie are Telereal Trillium’s cleaning service provider.The Engie base rate of pay for all cleaners within the M25 is £9.15 (London Living Wage) which will increase to the new London Living Wage of £9.40 by May 2016. The Engie base rate of pay for all cleaners outside the M25 is £6.70 (or the scale appropriate to their age) which will change in April 2016 to the National Living Wage of £7.20 (or the scale appropriate to their age).

Department for Work and Pensions: Employment Tribunals Service

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department spent from the public purse on industrial tribunals in the last 12 months.

Justin Tomlinson: The cost of Employment Tribunals can be found within the HMCTS annual accounts published at:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/433948/hmcts-annual-report-accounts-2014-15.pdf. We have provided the link to the previous full financial year rather than the last 12 months of operation as the most recent 12 months of data has not been audited and does not contain the full overhead costs which are only applied at the end of the financial year and, as such, will not provide a like-for-like comparison with published data in prior years.

Department for Work and Pensions: Consultants

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many consultants' contracts were terminated early in each of the last six years for which figures are available; and what the cost of each such termination was in each of those years.

Justin Tomlinson: No DWP Contracts let for the services of Consultants have been terminated earlier than the Contract end date.

Poverty: Greater Manchester

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to reduce the prevalence of child poverty in the Greater Manchester area.

Priti Patel: The Government is committed to eliminating child poverty and improving life chances for all children, including those in Greater Manchester. We know that work is the best route out of poverty and we are already making progress, with the number of children in workless households across Greater Manchester down by 13,000 since 2010. Our investment in childcare, the National Living Wage and increases to the Personal Allowance will help people increase their hours, increase their earnings, and enable them to keep more of what they earn. The Secretary of State will say more about the Government’s plan to tackle disadvantage and extend opportunity in a new Life Chances Strategy. This will be published in the Spring.

Department for Work and Pensions: Human Rights Act 1998

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many civil law suits have been brought against his Department based either wholly or partially on grounds provided by the Human Rights Act 1998; how many such suits were settled out of court before a court judgment was delivered; and how much such settlements have cost the public purse since 2010.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department’s records relating to the data requested are not comprehensive. Obtaining data that does exist would take the costs of responding to the question over the disproportionate cost threshold.

Department for Work and Pensions: Overtime

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department has paid to staff in overtime in each of the last 24 months.

Justin Tomlinson: This information is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Department for Work and Pensions: UK Membership of EU

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 22 February 2016, Official Report, column 35, on the European Council, whether his Department is undertaking planning in the eventuality of a majority leave vote in the EU referendum.

Priti Patel: Holding answer received on 02 March 2016



On 19 February, the Prime Minister set out the Government's view on remaining in the European Union.

Work Programme: Mental Health

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with mental health charities on the effect of the Work Programme on its participants.

Priti Patel: Officials met with the Disability Charities Consortium on 15 January to discuss input into the new Work and Health Programme, which included discussion of the lessons learned from the Work Programme. Officials will also be attending a round table on future employment support, hosted by Mind, on 24 March.

Social Security Benefits

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average time taken is after a new (a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) employment and support allowance claim has been processed to make a first payment to a claimant.

Priti Patel: The Department does not hold data on the time taken to make a payment.

Department for Work and Pensions: Sick Leave

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many officials of his Department took sick leave for reasons relating to stress in each of the last five years; and what proportion of (a) his Department's staff and (b) total sick leave the sick leave of such officials represented in each such year.

Justin Tomlinson: DWP has succeeded in reducing sickness absence from an annual average of 11.1 days per employee in 2007 to 6.18 days per employee currently. This is one of the lowest rates across the public sector. Our Attendance Management policy is supportive and we are committed to helping our people maintain good health. DWP is committed to improving mental ill health, including stress. We support employees through access to comprehensive stress risk assessments, Occupational Health services, and our Employee Assistance Programme. DWP is currently introducing Mental Health First Aid to further add to the support available. The number of employees with a sickness absence reason of ‘stress’ over the last 5 years is shown below: YearNumber of employees with sickness absence recorded as ‘Stress’Number of employees with sickness absence reason recorded as ‘stress’ as % of end of year headcount*Number of working days lost recorded as ‘stress’ as % of all working days lost due to sickness absenceJan-Dec 152,5813.01%10.57%Jan-Dec 142,8863.15%11.06%Jan-Dec 133,4013.38%11.15%Jan-Dec 123,3133.07%9.63%Jan-Dec 113,2883.20%9.26%

Department for Work and Pensions: Resignations

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many officials of his Department resigned in each of the last 12 months.

Justin Tomlinson: The numbers of employees who resigned from the Department for Work and Pensions in each of the last 12 months is as follows: MonthResignationsResignations as a % of workforceFebruary 20151210.13%March 20151560.17%April 20151770.19%May 20151860.20%June 20151510.16%July 20152190.25%August 20152120.24%September 20152330.27%October 20151750.20%November 20151710.20%December 20151360.16%January 20161340.16%

Department for Work and Pensions: MAXIMUS Health and Human Services

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what declarations under EU procurement guidelines Maximus made in tendering for the Work Capability Assessment contract.

Priti Patel: The Work Capability Assessment contract was awarded to Maximus Health and Human Services Ltd in line with the Government’s EU procurement guidelines. These guidelines include the grounds for the mandatory or discretionary rejection of suppliers and cover areas such as convictions for bribery, fraud, money laundering and debt in the EU under EU/UK Law. Maximus Health and Human Services Ltd made the appropriate declarations.

Department for Work and Pensions: MAXIMUS Health and Human Services

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of whether Maximus met the appropriate standards under EU procurement guidelines in tendering for the Work Capability Assessment contract.

Priti Patel: The contract for the delivery Work Capability Assessments was awarded in line with the Government’s EU procurement guidelines. The tender submitted by Maximus Health and Human Services Ltd met the appropriate standards.

Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces: Baltic States

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the UK's military presence in the Baltic region in each of the last three years.

Penny Mordaunt: The UK undertakes a wide range of operational, Defence Engagement and training activity within the Baltic region. While it is not possible to provide full information, costs exceeded £1.6 million in FY13-14; £13.5 million in FY14-15 and £4.1 million in FY15-16.

Ministry of Defence: Overtime

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has paid to staff in overtime in each of the last 24 months.

Mark Lancaster: The payment of overtime is permitted where a Ministry of Defence (MOD) employee below the Senior Civil Service is required to work beyond conditioned hours or on days that they would not normally be required to work. There has been a conscious effort to reduce overtime costs in the MOD, line managers must scrutinise overtime and encourage time off in lieu as an alternative. As a guiding principle, overtime should only be granted when taken in direct support of current operations, it is of essential business resilience, or when posts require routinely long hours and time off in lieu no longer represents a realistic alternative. A summary of the amount of MOD expenditure on overtime payments in the last 24 months is shown below.  Month£ millionMarch 20143.550April 20145.990May 20144.908June 20147.172July 20145.560August 20145.744September 20145.305October 20147.050November 20146.378December 20145.416January 20154.820February 20156.726March 20153.895April 20155.018May 20156.605June 20156.039July 20156.481August 20156.313September 20154.603October 20152.424November 20155.252December 20156.576January 20164.447February 20166.232

Armed Forces: Mental Illness

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 2 February 2015 to Question 222253, what estimate he has made of the number of service personnel who have suffered mental illness in the current year.

Mark Lancaster: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) compiles records of UK Armed Forces personnel who have been assessed as having a mental health condition at either of the military Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMHs) or one of the facilities contracted by the MOD to provide in-patient treatment. During the period 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015, the most recent full year for which verified records are available, 4,858 personnel were assessed as having a mental health disorder. Verified figures are also available for the period of 7 April to 30 September 2015. During this six month period, 2,576 personnel were assessed as having a mental health disorder.

Jordan: Armed Forces

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Ministry of Defence (a) military and (b) civilian personnel are based at the Muwaffaq airbase in Jordan.

Penny Mordaunt: There are no Ministry of Defence personnel based at the Muwaffaq airbase in Jordan.

Armed Forces: Vehicles

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which types of (a) combat, (b) protected patrol and (c) reconnaissance vehicles in use by his Department were first brought into service in the (i) 1950s, (ii) 1960s, (iii) 1970s, (iv) 1980s and (v) 1990s.

Mr Philip Dunne: Details of combat, protected patrol (PPV) and reconnaissance vehicles procured in the 1950s to 1990s, that are still in use are provided below. Vehicle TypeVehicleDecade brought into service  1950s1960s1970s1980s1990sCombatChallenger 2 Main Battle TankYesCombatWarrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle   Yes CombatBULLDOG Armoured Personnel Carrier (FV 432)[1]   Yes CombatBandvagn 206 (BV 206)   Yes CombatArtillery System 90 (AS 90)YesPPVSNATCH Land Rover[2]YesReconnaissanceCombat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)  Yes  ReconnaissanceWeapons Mounted Installation Kit Land Rover (WMIK)[3]Yes  [1] BULLDOG is based on the FV432 Mk2 hull which entered service in the 1980s. The FV432 Mk1 entered service in the 1960s and was replaced by the Mk2. The FV432 Mk1 is no longer in service.[2] Snatch 1 was procured in the 1990s. In the 2000s Snatch I was upgraded and extensively refurbished to a number of build standards (Snatch 2, 2A and 2B) which remain in-service in a variety of roles.[3] The first WMIK’s were procured in the 1990s. Additional WMIKs were procured in the 2000s to provide a reconnaissance capability. All in-service WMIKs have been upgraded and refurbished to a new build standard.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Communities and Local Government: Pay

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the average hourly earnings of (a) female, (b) male, (c) full-time and (d) part-time employees of his Department were in each of the last five years.

Brandon Lewis: The information requested is already in the public domain. The Office for National Statistics publishes average salary information for each Civil Service Department by gender, and by working pattern. These figures are published as an annual salary.The Civil Service statistics can be found at:http://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/datasets/civilservicestatistics

Communities and Local Government: Official Hospitality

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much his Department has spent on (a) hospitality and (b) catering since May 2015.

Brandon Lewis: Holding answer received on 01 March 2016



Guidance to staff now states that refreshments may only be ordered for meetings with external attendees of longer than four hours.The Department has no separate budget for hospitality and catering. The Department spent £10,829.44 on hospitality from May 2015 to 29 February 2016.This compares to a bill of almost £500,000 in the last year of the Labour Government.

Communities and Local Government: Employment Tribunals Service

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much his Department spent from the public purse on industrial tribunals in the last 12 months.

Brandon Lewis: The cost of Employment Tribunals can be found within the HM Courts & Tribunals Service annual accounts published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/433948/hmcts-annual-report-accounts-2014-15.pdf

Communities and Local Government: Human Rights Act 1998

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many civil law suits have been brought against his Department based either wholly or partially on grounds provided by the Human Rights Act 1998; how many such suits were settled out of court before a court judgment was delivered; and how much such settlements have cost the public purse since 2010.

Brandon Lewis: The information requested is not held centrally.

Communities and Local Government: Overtime

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much his Department has paid to staff in overtime in each of the last 24 months.

Brandon Lewis: The Department already publishes spend on overtime on a monthly basis as part of wider transparency publications. The Department's workforce management publications can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/workforce-management

Communities and Local Government: Greater London

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of his Department's core policy civil servants are based in London.

Brandon Lewis: The Department has 91.8% of its core policy civil servants based in London.

Housing: Disability

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of disabled people offered assistance by his Department for the installation of a chair lift in their home in each of the last five years.

Brandon Lewis: The Government is committed to helping disabled people live independently in their homes for as a long as possible. That is why, since 2010, we have invested over £1 billion into the disabled facilities grant, providing around 250,000 adaptations to disabled people's homes. The Department for Communities and Local Government does not collect specific information on the number of disabled people offered assistance for the installation of a chair lift in their home. However, information on the overall number of grants completed for the years 2009-10 to 2014-15 is provided in the table below. 2009-102010-112011-122012-132013-142014-15No. of grants completed44,10245,38343,98636,87442,58633,922

Domestic Violence: Victim Support Schemes

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.112 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, how much of the planned £40 million spending for services for victims of domestic abuse he plans will be spent in each of the next four years; and in each such year what programmes or policies that spending is planned to support.

Mr Marcus Jones: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Private Rented Housing: Housing Benefit

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what research his Department has conducted on the willingness of landlords to let properties to tenants in receipt of housing benefit; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: The English Housing Survey, funded by the Department, published its Headline Report 2014-15 in February 2016 which showed that 27% of privately rented households are in receipt of housing benefit.

Regional Planning and Development: North of England

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2016 to Question 27333, which local authorities he has visited in connection with the Northern Powerhouse.

Greg Clark: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for International Development

Overseas Aid

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate she has made of the cost in cash terms of the UK maintaining Official Development Assistance at 0.7 per cent of gross national income in financial year 2016-17.

Justine Greening: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 03 March 2016.The correct answer should have been:

Based on the Office for Budgetary Responsibility’s (OBR) Autumn Statement GNI forecasts, the UK is projected to spend £13.6bnm on Official Development Assistance (ODA) in 2016 in order to meet the 0.7 per cent of gross national income commitment.

Justine Greening: Based on the Office for Budgetary Responsibility’s (OBR) Autumn Statement GNI forecasts, the UK is projected to spend £13.6bnm on Official Development Assistance (ODA) in 2016 in order to meet the 0.7 per cent of gross national income commitment.

Malawi: Poverty

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with (a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) stakeholders involved in poverty reduction in Malawi on the contents of a new tax treaty with Malawi.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The Secretary of State for International Development has not had any such discussions. Negotiation of tax treaties with the UK is carried out by officials from HM Revenue and Customs under the direction of HM Treasury ministers.

HM Treasury

Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the value of tax credit overpayments has been in each financial year since 2010; and how much of that amount HM Revenue and Customs has recovered in each such year.

Damian Hinds: The value of tax credit overpayments and tax credit recoveries in a tax year is published in HM Revenue & Customs, Annual Report and Accounts, available through www.gov.uk. The following are hyperlinks to each of the requested years 2010-11https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/89199/annual-report-accounts-1011.pdf 2011-12https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/89198/annual-report-accounts-1112.pdf 2012-13https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210244/9549-TSO-HMRC_RA_ACCESSIBLE.pdf 2013-14https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/330670/HMRC-annual-report-2013-14.pdf 2014-15 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/449343/HMRC_Annual_Report_and_Accounts_2014-15__Web_accessible_version_.pdf

UK Membership of EU

Steve Rotheram: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect on the economy of the UK leaving the EU.

Mr David Gauke: As the Chancellor has said, a UK exit from the EU would be a long, costly and messy divorce. The finance Ministers and central bank governors of the G20 concluded at the weekend that a British exit would cause an economic shock not just to the UK but to Europe and the world. What people are asking for in this referendum campaign is a serious, sober and principled assessment from the Government setting out the facts. The Treasury will publish a comprehensive analysis of our membership of a reformed EU and the alternatives, including the long-term economic costs and benefits of EU membership and the risks associated with an exit before 23 June.

Treasury: Employment Tribunals Service

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much his Department spent from the public purse on industrial tribunals in the last 12 months.

Harriett Baldwin: The cost of Employment Tribunals can be found within the HMCTS annual accounts published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/433948/hmcts-annual-report-accounts-2014-15.pdf.

Treasury: Consultants

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many consultants' contracts were terminated early in each of the last six years for which figures are available; and what the cost of each such termination was in each of those years.

Harriett Baldwin: Since April 2011, the department has maintained a contracts database. A search of that database by the Crown Commercial Service has not identified any consultancy contracts that have been terminated early. Prior to April 2011, the department did not hold a central record of contracts. To attempt to extract the information from local records would be at disproportionate cost.

Treasury: Publications

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) publications, (b) consultation documents and (c) circulars his Department has issued since August 2012; and what the title was of each such publication, consultation document or circular.

Harriett Baldwin: All Treasury consultations published since the department since 2010 can be found online at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=hm-treasury&publication_filter_option=consultations This includes the consultation’s title.

Treasury: Human Rights Act 1998

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many civil law suits have been brought against his Department based either wholly or partially on grounds provided by the Human Rights Act 1998; how many such suits were settled out of court before a court judgment was delivered; and how much such settlements have cost the public purse since 2010.

Harriett Baldwin: The information requested is not available, as separate data for cases based wholly or partially on the Human Rights Act 1998 are not recorded.

Treasury: Overtime

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much his Department has paid to staff in overtime in each of the last 24 months.

Harriett Baldwin: The Treasury’s overtime costs are published and can be found on www.gov.uk

Revenue and Customs: Travel

Helen Goodman: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2016 to Question 27823, how many of the journeys referred to were to (a) EU and (b) OECD countries.

Mr David Gauke: In 2014-15, there were 1,185 journeys to countries that are members of both the EU and OECD, 19 journeys to EU-only countries and 133 journeys to OECD-only countries. For the first half of 2015-16,550 journeys were made to countries that are members of both the EU and OECD, 25 journeys to EU-only countries and 69 journeys to OECD-only countries.

Google: Taxation

Tulip Siddiq: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much HM Revenue and Customs spent on auditing Google's tax returns in each of the last 10 years; and how many full-time equivalent staff worked on that task in those years.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs does not disclose details of its work on the affairs of particular taxpayers.

Gift Aid

Alan Brown: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to respond to the consultation exercise of the Gift aid small donations scheme: A Call for evidence which closes on 2 March 2016.

Damian Hinds: The consultation has now closed and HMRC are currently analysing the responses. They will publish a responses document before the summer recess and will continue to work closely with the charity sector.

Taxation: Self-assessment

Helen Goodman: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his estimate is of the average cost to (a) self-employed people and (b) small businesses of moving from annual to quarterly digital tax reporting by 2020.

Mr David Gauke: I refer the honourable Member to my response of 11 January 2016 (with references 20876 and 21032). In the longer term we expect these changes will lead to a reduction in business administration costs. Updating HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) through software or apps will deliver a light-touch process, much less burdensome and time-consuming than it is today. HMRC will produce an initial draft impact assessment alongside the formal consultation process, which will start this spring. As with any other tax measure, a detailed assessment of the impact on administrative burdens will be published alongside draft legislation, expected to be in December 2016.

Revenue and Customs: Staff

Stephen Timms: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how long in advance of the date of the closure will HM Revenue and Customs staff in each office earmarked for closure be informed of their future employment options.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has already commenced a discussion process with staff in offices identified for closure. HMRC has given a commitment to staff that they will have a one-to-one meeting with their manager to discuss their options at least one year ahead of their office closure.

European Union Solidarity Fund: Wales

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to permit a future Welsh Government to apply directly to the EU Solidarity Fund using UK status as a member state.

Mr David Gauke: The current regulation states that an application for an EU Solidarity Fund grant must come from an EU member state government. The Treasury leads on negotiations relating to the EU’s seven-year budget, or ‘Multiannual Financial Framework’ (MFF). We can expect the rules governing the implementation of the Fund, including the application process, to be reviewed in the context of negotiations relating to the next MFF, which will take effect from 2021. The Devolved Administrations will be consulted in preparation for those negotiations.

Taxation: Malawi

Patrick Grady: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with representatives of the government of Malawi on the content of the new tax treaty with that country in the last 12 months.

Mr David Gauke: Discussions with Malawi over a new tax treaty began some years ago, and substantive agreement has been reached at official level. We expect that the treaty will be concluded shortly.

Income Tax: Devon

Johnny Mercer: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people paid the (a) top rate, (b) higher rate and (c) basic rate of income tax in (i) Plymouth Moor View, (ii) Plymouth Sutton and Devonport and (iii) South West Devon constituency in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Mr David Gauke: Published estimates of numbers of taxpayers, total income and total tax, broken down by income sources and parliamentary constituencies are available from the National Statistics Personal Incomes Statistics release. Information from 2010-11 to 2012-13 is available at the link below.https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/income-and-tax-by-parliamentary-constituency-2010-to-2011 Information for earlier years is available at the link below. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120609145917/http://hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/menu-by-year.htm#315  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Department for Energy and Climate Change: Grants

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, which organisations have received public grant funding from her Department in each of the last three years; and what the purposes of each grant were.

Andrea Leadsom: The organisations that have received grant funding from DECC in FY2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 are summarised in the attached.



Orgs receiving DECC public grant funding 2012-15
(PDF Document, 421.11 KB)

Department for Energy and Climate Change: Consultants

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many consultants' contracts were terminated early in each of the last six years for which figures are available; and what the cost of each such termination was in each of those years.

Andrea Leadsom: This information is not readily available, and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Department for Energy and Climate Change: Cleaning Services

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the rate of pay is for cleaners in her Department.

Andrea Leadsom: The hourly rate of pay for cleaners working in the Department of Energy and Climate Change is between £7.85 and £9.15 depending on location. From 1 April 2016, the rate of pay will be increased to the 2016 Living Wage Foundation rates.

Department for Energy and Climate Change: Employment Tribunals Service

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how much her Department spent from the public purse on industrial tribunals in the last 12 months.

Andrea Leadsom: The cost of Employment Tribunals can be found within the HMCTS annual accounts published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/433948/hmcts-annual-report-accounts-2014-15.pdf.

Department for Energy and Climate Change: Human Rights Act 1998

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many civil law suits have been brought against her Department based either wholly or partially on grounds provided by the Human Rights Act 1998; how many such suits were settled out of court before a court judgment was delivered; and how much such settlements have cost the public purse since 2010.

Andrea Leadsom: When the Human Rights Act came into force, no specific arrangements were put in place by the then government to record cases in the way requested. Litigants in civil cases can rely on arguments based wholly or partly on the Human Rights Act 1998. In some cases, the Act is relied on in addition to other claims. Neither Government Legal Department (GLD) records nor the County and High Courts case management systems distinguish between cases where the Act is invoked and cases where it is not. As a result, there are not currently data published which distinguish between cases where the Human Rights Act was or was not invoked.

Department for Energy and Climate Change: Overtime

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how much her Department has paid to staff in overtime in each of the last 24 months.

Andrea Leadsom: In the period January 2014 to end January 2016 overtime payments made totalled (to the nearest £k) broken down as shown below:- 2013-14£k2014-15£k2015-16£kJanuary43April63April26February52May85May34March58June10June32  July60July34  August38August22  September30September21  October32October23  November47November32  December59December37  January36January28  February49March49

Electricity Generation: Finance

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what plans her Department has to differentiate between different types of less-established technologies in the next Contracts for Difference allocation round.

Andrea Leadsom: As we did in the first CFD allocation round, we will use an auction to differentiate between the projects in the less established technologies pot. We keep the technologies eligible for each pot under review to make sure that our decarbonisation and affordability objectives are met.

Nuclear Power Stations: Israel

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assistance has been (a) asked for and (b) provided to Israel to assist in (i) emergency planning in the event of a radiological incident and (ii) radioactive waste management at the Dimona nuclear plant in Israel.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has not received any requests from, or provided assistance to, Israel on either emergency planning in the event of a radiological incident, or radioactive waste management at the Dimona nuclear plant.

Energy Supply

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many of gigawatts of diesel generating capacity the National Grid has on standby for demand spikes; whether her Department is planning for more diesel generation to be so available; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: National Grid currently has approximately 0.6GW of diesel generation contracted in Short Term Operating Reserve – STOR - the key balancing service used to manage fluctuations in demand. STOR is procured by National Grid and Government is not involved in this process. However, Government is aware of concerns regarding the growth of diesel generators, and with this in mind Defra will consult later this year on options which will include legislation that would set binding emission limit values on relevant air pollutants from diesel engines.

Coal Fired Power Stations: Germany

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what information her Department holds on the number of coal-fired powered stations which have been built in Germany since 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department commissioned an independent study[1] published in April 2013 looking at new coal-fired power stations in Germany. This study found 10 coal plants (a total of 8GW) were under construction at the time and would be ready to be commissioned by 2015. [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/194335/Poyry_Report_-_Coal_fired_power_generation_in_Germany.pdf

Wood: Carbon Emissions

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to reduce carbon emissions from wood stoves.

Andrea Leadsom: Directive 2009/125/EC established a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-related products. In April 2015 Commission Regulation 2015/1185 was published, which provides minimum standards for efficiencies of wood burning stoves placed on the European market from 2022 that will reduce their carbon emissions. Wood burning stoves that have a back boiler attached are supported through the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). The scheme applies only to Great Britain. Wood burning stoves are treated as having zero emissions for most inventory purposes, given that the biomass combustion releases the carbon captured during the trees’ lifetime; and that this loss of carbon from the forest is already recorded in the forestry section of the emissions inventory. Different carbon emissions figures are used for lifecycle analysis of biomass – but these often relate to the transportation of the fuel and fuel preparation. Evidence to date suggests the fuel used in wood burning stoves, such as logs, is frequently sourced very locally with minimal preparation, and therefore has a relatively small footprint. A tool is also available from Ofgem for calculating carbon emissions from biomass. It can be found on the Ofgem website at https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/uk-solid-and-gaseous-biomass-carbon-calculator .

Cabinet Office

Cabinet Office: Human Rights Act 1998

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil law suits have been brought against his Department based either wholly or partially on grounds provided by the Human Rights Act 1998; how many such suits were settled out of court before a court judgment was delivered; and how much such settlements have cost the public purse since 2010.

Matthew Hancock: The Cabinet Office does not hold the information that has been requested as separate data for cases based wholly or partially on the Human Rights Act 1998 are not recorded.

Cabinet Office: Overtime

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much his Department has paid to staff in overtime in each of the last 24 months.

Matthew Hancock: As part of this Government’s transparency agenda, all Departments are required to publish monthly workforce statistics that includes overtime costs. This information is available from the Cabinet Office website at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/payroll-costs-and-non-consolidated-pay-data

Cabinet Office: Publications

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) publications, (b) consultation documents and (c) circulars his Department has issued since August 2012; and what the title was of each such publication, consultation document or circular.

Matthew Hancock: Since December 2012 a policy of 'digital by default' has been applied to all Cabinet Office publications. All publications and consultations are published via GOV.UKAll publications are searchable by date and displayed by title.A search of GOV.UK shows 1110 publications in total since 1st August 2012; this includes 33 consultations.For circulars, including newsletters and group emails, an accurate answer could only be provided at disproportionate costs.

Cabinet Office: Consultants

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many consultants' contracts were terminated early in each of the last six years for which figures are available; and what the cost of each such termination was in each of those years.

Matthew Hancock: The information requested is not held centrally.

Cabinet Office: Employment Tribunals Service

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much his Department spent from the public purse on industrial tribunals in the last 12 months.

Matthew Hancock: In the last 12 months the Cabinet Office has spent £55,786 on legal costs relating to cases that were heard at employment tribunals.

Cabinet Office: Computer Software

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what investment his Department has made in software components in the last six months.

Matthew Hancock: The Cabinet Office routinely purchases software components to facilitate business operations and has purchased a number of software components, such as desktop software, document management systems, business applications and software as service components. Details of transactions are listed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/cabinet-office-spend-data

Cabinet Office: Staff

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many officials in his Department are responsible for coordinating and developing international policy across Government.

Matthew Hancock: Promoting diversity in the Senior Civil Service is a ministerial responsibility of the Minister for the Cabinet Office. I have had frequent such meetings, and details of Ministers' meetings with external organisations are published routinely and can be found on www. Gov.UK.

Public Appointments: Females

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he has taken to increase the number of public appointments of women in the last three months.

Matthew Hancock: The Government is committed to increasing the diversity of public appointments and​ has an​ aspiration that 50% of new public appointees should be women. We are making ​good ​progress, with 44% of new appointments made to women in 2014-2015 and a higher proportion of all public appointments (new appointments and reappointments) went to women last year than at any other point previously recorded.The Centre for Public Appointments in the Cabinet Office supports departments on all issues relating to the diversity of public appointments. Steps we are taking to increase diversity include streamlining the application process​, placing an emphasis on ability over previous experience,​ and increasing awareness of opportunities by using a central website, social media.I hosted an event in February for a variety of diversity networks to encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply for Public Appointments and to advertise them in their own networks. The Cabinet Office is also represented at events run by diversity networks to raise awareness of the opportunities available.

Public Appointments: Ethnic Groups

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he has taken to increase the number of public appointments of BAME representation in the last three months.

Matthew Hancock: The Government is committed to increasing the diversity of public appointments. The Centre for Public Appointments in the Cabinet Office supports departments on all issues relating to the diversity of public appointments. Steps we are taking to increase diversity include streamlining the application process​, placing an emphasis on ability over previous experience,​ and increasing awareness of opportunities by using a central website, social media. The Centre for Public Appointments also engages extensively with a variety of diversity networks​ and groups representing the views of ethnic minorities to raise awareness and increase the number of applications coming from BAME candidates and understand any potential issues or barriers.I hosted an event in February for a variety of diversity networks to encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply for Public Appointments and to advertise them in their own networks. The Cabinet Office is also represented at events run by diversity networks to raise awareness of the opportunities available.

Civil Servants: Social Status

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress the Government has made on determining how best to collect and track data on socio-economic background in the Civil Service.

Matthew Hancock: On 2 February we published a report by the Bridge Group on socio-economic diversity in the Civil Service’s flagship graduate recruitment programme, the Fast Stream. This report can be accessed from the link at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/socio-economic-diversity-in-the-fast-stream-the-bridge-report and my accompanying speech at https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/addressing-inequality-in-the-public-sector-and-beyond-matt-hancock-speech"For the Fast Stream graduate programme and for the Fast Track apprenticeship scheme, we already collect information from candidates about their socio-economic background. We are working to implement the Bridge Group recommendations on the best measures of socio-economic background for these programmes, including collecting home postcode and school attended by applicants, both at age 14. Both of these new data items will be collected for recruitment to Fast Stream and Fast Track for new competitions from 2016.We will publish our Social Mobility Strategy for the Civil Service in the Spring, in which we will set out our approach to measuring socio-economic diversity in the wider workforce.

Civil Service

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of in which areas of the Civil Service there is a deficit in capabilities.

Matthew Hancock: We have completed a skills review process across different government departments in the last 3 years considering leading and managing change, programme management, digital, and commercial skills and this has given a high level indication of the areas where we need to increase capability. Our approach to learning and development includes specific focus on these areas.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Human Rights Act 1998

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many civil law suits have been brought against her Department based either wholly or partially on grounds provided by the Human Rights Act 1998; how many such suits were settled out of court before a court judgment was delivered; and how much such settlements have cost the public purse since 2010.

George Eustice: The Human Rights Act 1998 has been in force since October 2000. There is no central record of civil cases brought against Defra where a breach of the Human Rights Act 1998 was alleged.There have not been any cases since 2010 settled by payment of damages which alleged a breach of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Employment Tribunals Service

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much her Department spent from the public purse on industrial tribunals in the last 12 months.

George Eustice: The Govt Legal Dept have represented Defra at Employment Tribunals since Oct 2011. The costs of any such litigation are covered by an annual block fee arrangement which covers all aspects of legal services provided to Defra.The cost of Employment Tribunals can be found within the HMCTS annual accounts published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/433948/hmcts-annual-report-accounts-2014-15.pdf.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Cleaning Services

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the rate of pay is for cleaners in her Department.

George Eustice: Cleaning services for Defra are provided under the facilities contract with Interserve FM. Rates for cleaners vary dependent on location and market rates. From April the minimum rates will be:£7.20 per hour for 25 year olds and over£6.70 per hour for 21 year olds and over£5.30 per hour for 18 – 20 year olds

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Publications

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) publications, (b) consultation documents and (c) circulars her Department has issued since August 2012; and what the title was of each such publication, consultation document or circular.

George Eustice: This Department’s publications and consultations issued since August 2012 are available, indexed in date order, on the GOV.UK website. The indexes enable users to search by date and by type of publication. Approximately 2540 publications have been issued by, or jointly with, this Department since August 2012, including 210 consultations. We cannot identify any circulars published since August 2012.

Trees: Diseases

Rebecca Pow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of tree disease on (a) existing woodland and (b) the restoration of planted ancient woodland.

Rory Stewart: Protecting our country from plant and tree pests and diseases is important for our economy, the environment and our health. Defra is committed to protecting our borders from pests and building the resilience of our trees and plants. We assess the impacts of pests and disease threats on trees and plants and take a risk-based approach to ensure that our response is directed towards priority pests and diseases and their respective pathways. We have produced a prioritised plant health risk register which is used to identify risks and agree priorities for action. The Forestry Commission has a comprehensive monitoring and surveillance programme in place for tree pests and diseases in woodlands. Maps of the latest confirmed findings are available on its website: www.forestry.gov.uk/pestsanddiseases Defra has funded research to ‘Assess and address the impacts of ash dieback on UK woodlands and trees of conservation importance’. The published report includes a series of case studies on sites of ancient woodland and is available at: http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/5273931279761408

Dogs: Tagging

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to encourage vets, re-homing centres and dog wardens to scan stray dogs for microchips.

George Eustice: It is already best practice for vets, re-homing centres and dog wardens to scan strays and they have a duty of care to do so. To assist dog wardens, the Kennel Club has provided free scanners to all local authorities. We will also be reminding these parties of the need to scan dogs.

Agriculture and Fisheries

Tom Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential effect on the agriculture and fishing sectors of the UK leaving the EU.

George Eustice: We have not made any assessment of the potential effect of a UK withdrawal from the EU on the UK agriculture and fishing sectors.

Department of Health

Social Workers: Vacancies

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many social worker vacancies remained unfilled in (a) 2014 and (b) 2015.

Alistair Burt: The Department of Health has responsibility for adult social care policy which includes the activities of social workers in adult settings. The Department for Education has responsibility for the activities of social workers in children’s services. The Health and Social Care Information Centre has recently published its report “Personal Social Services: Staff of Social Services Departments, England, as at September 2015”. This shows that the vacancy rates for adult social workers in local authorities are as follows: 2014 there were 1,100* vacancies (8%)2015 there were 1,700** vacancies (12%) *2014 based on 121 councils with vacancies data recorded.**2015 based on 133 councils with vacancies data recorded. Source: Skills for Care - NMDS-SC

Meningitis: Vaccination

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to extend the meningitis B vaccination programme to all infants.

Jane Ellison: National immunisation programmes are introduced on the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the independent expert body that advises the Government on all immunisation matters. Following JCVI’s recommendation, we introduced a Meningococcal B (MenB) infant programme. Since September 2015, all infants aged two months have been offered the MenB vaccine, followed by a second dose at four months and a booster at 12 months. We are proud to have been the first country in the world to introduce a national, publicly-funded MenB immunisation programme for infants using the Bexsero vaccine.

Department of Health: Overtime

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department has paid to staff in overtime in each of the last 24 months.

Jane Ellison: The amounts paid to staff in overtime in each of the last 24 months are contained in the attached document.



Overtime pay
(Excel SpreadSheet, 19.04 KB)

Department of Health: Human Rights Act 1998

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many civil law suits have been brought against his Department based either wholly or partially on grounds provided by the Human Rights Act 1998; how many such suits were settled out of court before a court judgment was delivered; and how much such settlements have cost the public purse since 2010.

Jane Ellison: When the Human Rights Act came into force, no specific arrangements were put in place by the then government to record cases in the way requested. Furthermore, litigants in civil cases can rely on arguments based wholly or partly on the Human Rights Act 1998. In some cases, the Act is relied on in addition to other claims. Neither Government Legal Department records nor the County and High Courts case management systems distinguish between cases where the Act is invoked and cases where it is not. As a result, there are not currently data published which distinguish between cases where the Human Rights Act was or was not invoked. To obtain the information requested would involve a thorough review of all paper case files since 2010. To undergo this review would incur a disproportionate cost.

Ambulance Services

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting time for an ambulance was (a) nationally, (b) in London and (c) in Hornsey and Wood Green constituency in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Jane Ellison: The information is not available in the format requested. NHS England publish the total number of Category A (most urgent) calls resulting in an emergency response and the proportion of responses against the three national ambulance performance standards.This data is published on a monthly basis at both a national and individual ambulance trust level. Latest data for December 2015 for England and London Ambulance Service NHS Trust is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ambulance-quality-indicators/- see interactive ambulance systems indicators time series to December 2015Data is not available at constituency level.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting time for an operation in (a) Pennine Acute NHS Trust and (b) Bolton NHS Trust was in the last year for which figures are available.

Jane Ellison: Patients have a legal right, set out in the NHS Constitution, to start consultant-led treatment within a maximum of 18 weeks from referral for non-urgent conditions. The following table shows the average median waiting time in weeks for patients whose wait ended during the month with an inpatient or day case admission to Pennine Acute NHS Trust or Bolton NHS Trust. Only a proportion of inpatient or day case admissions would have resulted in an operation.Table: average median waiting times1, 2 in weeks for patients whose wait ended during the month with an inpatient or day case admission3, 2015MonthBolton NHS TrustPennine Acute NHS TrustJanuary 20158.210.8February 20158.711.1March 20157.69.8April 20157.610.6May 20157.910.6June 20157.011.4July 20156.611.1August 20156.310.9September 20156.910.9October 20157.111.1November 20157.010.6December 20155.710.5 Source: Consultant-led referral to treatment waiting times, NHS England Notes: Median waiting times are calculated from aggregate data, rather than patient level data, and therefore are only estimates of the position on average waits.Until September 2015, adjustments were permitted for clock pauses, where a patient declined reasonable offers of admission and chose to wait longer. From October 2015, there is no longer any provision to report pauses or suspensions in waiting time clocks.Not every admission to hospital is for an operation, but hospital episode statistics suggest that 94% of elective finished admission episodes involve some form of procedure or intervention.

Doctors

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of newly qualified doctors has entered (a) primary care and (b) hospitals.

Ben Gummer: The requested information is not collected centrally.

Department of Health: Employment Tribunals Service

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department spent from the public purse on industrial tribunals in the last 12 months.

Jane Ellison: In the Department, legal spend is captured as part of a budget line which includes other expenditure. It would incur disproportionate costs to establish the exact amount of the relevant expenditure on employment tribunals alone.

Emergency Services: Telephone Services

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many emergency call handlers were employed in each year since 2010.

Jane Ellison: This information is not held centrally. It is for individual ambulance trusts to ensure that they have a workforce capable of meeting the demands on the service, both numerically and in levels of skill.

European Health Insurance Cards

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many UK citizens currently have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC); and how many such people have used their EHIC to obtain state provided healthcare in other EU countries in each of the last five years.

Ben Gummer: The United Kingdom EHIC means that people living in the UK are able to travel to the European Economic Area (EEA) safe in the knowledge that they will be able to receive free or reduced cost healthcare should they need it.There are currently 27,570,911 cards in circulation, as of January 2016. The number of cards granted since 2006, providing such cover is: 2014/15 - 5,414,9772013/14 - 5,571,0602012/13 - 5,240,6082011/12 - 6,830,7342010/11 - 5,703,8952009/10 - 4,162,1702008/09 - 4,269,0232007/08 - 4,160,9352006/07 - 5,163,121 Source: Business Services Authority The Department does not hold information on how many people have used their UK EHIC to obtain state provided healthcare in another EEA country in any 12 month period. This is because data on UK EHIC usage is recorded by individual treatment episode rather than the card holder.

NHS

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to page six of NHS England's document, Delivering the Forward View: NHS planning guidance 2016-17 to 2020-21, if he will place in the Library a list of the planned footprints for the sustainability and transformation plans.

Ben Gummer: NHS England will publish the planned footprints for the sustainability and transformation plans later this month.

NHS: Drugs

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to page 24 of the Accelerated Access Review, published in October 2015, what steps he is taking to ensure that drugs that target the genetically validated targets (a) PCSK9 and (b) BCL2 are introduced into routine NHS care; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Gummer: The Accelerated Access Review, chaired by Sir Hugh Taylor, will make recommendations to government on reforms to accelerate access for National Health Service patients to innovative medicines and medical technologies making our country the best place in the world to design, develop and deploy these products. The terms of the reference for the review focus on faster access to innovations, which may include drugs that target genetically validated targets such as PCSK9 and BCL2.

Cancer: Research

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the UK has received in grants and funding from the EU to fund research into cancer under (a) the EU's 7th framework programme 2007-2013 and (b) the current Horizon 2020 programme.

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the UK has received in grants and funding from the EU to fund research into cancer under (a) the EU's seventh framework programme 2007-2013 and (b) the current Horizon 2020 programme.

Ben Gummer: The Department does not hold this information.

Sexual Health Forum

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 25 January 2016 to Question 23396, for what reasons the Sexual Health Forum was discontinued; and what Public Health England's future plans are for stakeholder engagement with sexual health organisations.

Jane Ellison: The Sexual Health and HIV Forum played a useful role in aiding the transition to new commissioning arrangements and locally based decision making. These changes have taken place, the Forum was not considered to be the best use of resources either for Departmental or stakeholder organisations. Departmental officials continue to meet regularly with a range of stakeholders on a more focussed range of issues. Public Health England is still considering plans for future stakeholder engagement.

Health Services: Public Consultation

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2016 to Questions 23930, how many responses Public Health England has received to the review of sexual health, reproductive health and HIV commissioning services since the 8 February 2016 closing date; for what reasons his Department's consultation on sexual health, reproductive health and HIV commissioning services lasted for 3 weeks; and whether any assessment has been made of the effect of the length of the consultation period on the responses received to that review.

Jane Ellison: Public Health England (PHE), supported by the Association of Directors of Public Health undertook a review of Sexual Health, Reproductive Health and HIV Commissioning services; the survey was first published on the 19 January 2016 and closed formally on 8 February 2016. To date, PHE has received 113 responses to the survey. Two of these responses were received after 8 February closing date. This survey does not form part of any formal consultation. The length of the survey period was chosen to fit within the timeframes for analysis and publication for the survey findings. Response rates were continually reviewed during the survey period. The deadline was extended and reminders sent in order to increase response rates. The last response was received on 10 February. No assessment has been made of the impact of the survey period length but the response rate is considered to be high.

Genito-urinary Medicine

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answers of 14 January 2016 to Questions 21812, 21778, 21813, 21814 and 21816, which organisations his Department has met to discuss whether local authorities are meeting their mandatory requirements for the commissioning of sexual health services.

Jane Ellison: Departmental officials have met and discussed this issue with the Local Government Association, the English HIV and Sexual Health Commissioners Group, the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV and the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare.

Junior Doctors

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to bring forward proposals to add junior doctors to the definition of worker in section 43K(1) of the Employment Rights Act 1996.

Ben Gummer: The Employment Rights Act 1996, as amended by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 and more recent legislation, forms part of the wider employment rights legislation.Junior doctors are protected by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, as they are employees of the National Health Service trusts at which they are based.The Department supports NHS staff who wish to raise concerns and is implementing a range of measures to support the development of a culture in which staff are able to raise concerns without fear of repercussion or reprisal. The Department has made clear to NHS organisations that they should have policies and procedures to support and encourage staff to raise concerns, and that those concerns should be considered and, where appropriate, acted upon.

Care Homes: Closures

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) residential care homes and (b) nursing homes have closed in the current year and in each of the previous five years.

Alistair Burt: The Department does not centrally hold information on the number of residential care homes or nursing homes that have closed in the current year, or in each of the last five years.

Care Homes

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) registered care home and (b) nursing home places there were in the current year and in each of the previous five years.

Alistair Burt: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England. The CQC has provided the following information. Number of active care homes and number of beds1 at the end of the previous five fiscal years and as at 2 March 2016.  Number of Active Care HomesTotal Number of Active Care HomesNumber of Care Home BedsTotal Number of Care Home BedsDateNursing HomeResidential HomeNursing HomeResidential Home31 March 20114,36512,56716,932203,477236,197439,67431 March 20124,65413,16117,815217,266250,143467,40931 March 20134,66712,85317,520220,055245,577465,63231 March 20144,68312,66717,350222,158243,547465,70531 March 20154,69812,38217,080224,751239,363464,11402 March 20164,63712,13316,770223,899237,258461,157 1Number of beds is as at date of data extraction, or date of deactivation if care home inactive at the date of data extraction. Source: For data relating to the 2015-2016 fiscal year and Care Standards Act summary: CQC database at 2 March 2016. For data relating to previous fiscal years: CQC database as at 7 April 2015. Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 a single care home can have both service types of care home service with nursing and care home service without nursing. In this case, it is classified in this table as a nursing home.

Bowel Cancer: Screening

Mr John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2016 to Question 24375, when his Department plans to publish the data on eligibility for and uptake of the bowel cancer screening programme.

Jane Ellison: The National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme continues to analyse the data collected and will be publishing data in the annual report which is due later this year.

Social Workers: Recruitment

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to encourage more people to train as adults' social workers.

Alistair Burt: The Chief Social Worker for Adults is actively working with the profession to create a highly skilled, flexible workforce which is able to contribute to improved outcomes for people in all settings. She is developing a comprehensive framework for continuous professional development for adult social work, which will include development of specialisms in key areas of practice, such as dementia, end of life care and learning disabilities. This will provide a clear progression route for both newly qualified and experienced social workers to deepen their knowledge, skills and practice. The Government has funded four teaching partnerships which build on and enhance the existing arrangements between Higher Education Institutions and employers. The key aims are to improve the quality of education received by social work students, mainly through a greater experience of quality statutory placements and employer involvement in the selection of students and provision of placements. The Department has also developed Think Ahead, a new fast-track scheme for exceptional graduates and career-changers to become mental health social workers. The programme has been in development since 2014 and will take its first graduates in July 2016.

Wheelchairs: West Lancashire

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will encourage NHS England and NHS West Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group to provide a response to the letter of 24 September 2015 from the hon. Member for West Lancashire on wheelchair provision in West Lancashire.

Alistair Burt: Letters to and from the National Health Service to hon. Members are a matter for NHS England. The Department would expect NHS England to respond promptly and courteously to all letters from hon. Members.

Haemorrhoids

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to make the most up-to-date haemorrhoid treatment available on the NHS.

Jane Ellison: Treatments may be brought into routine use in the National Health Service after their efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness have been appropriately demonstrated. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence also has an important role in assessing new technologies and interventional procedure providing, as well producing, best practice approaches to treatment and care for a wide range of diseases and conditions.

Zika Virus

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he has had discussions with his EU counterparts on the containment of the Zika virus.

Jane Ellison: My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly discusses matters across his portfolio with his European counterparts. He continues to monitor this outbreak of the Zika virus closely. In addition, Departmental officials continue to discuss the developing situation, including the measures that can be taken to contain the virus, with European colleagues through a number of channels, including at regular meetings of the European Health Security Committee.

Mental Illness: Death

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the mortality rate of people with mental health issues has been (a) nationally and (b) in each local authority in each year since 2010.

Alistair Burt: Information on the mortality rate of adults under 75 years old with serious mental illness in England and in each local authority in England between 2010/11 and 2013/14 is given in the attached table Mortality rate of people with mental health issues in (a) England and (b) in each local authority in England between 2010/11 and 2013/14.



Mortality rates of people with mental health issue
(PDF Document, 1.33 MB)

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the progress of the Children and Young People's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme's service transformation programme.

Alistair Burt: The Government’s transformation programme for children and young people’s mental health is aimed at improving children and young people’s mental health and providing additional support for those who experience mental health problems. The Children and Young People’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (CYP IAPT) programme includes training for professionals working in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) partnerships to put the patient at the centre of their treatment: young people agree goals and milestones with the professional, and participate in their care through regular feedback and outcome monitoring. The benefits of this approach are well-evidenced. Unlike the adult programme, CYP IAPT does not create new services; it transforms CAMHS partnerships by training people to deliver evidence-based interventions so that those working in CAMHS do so in collaboration with children, young people and families, in every aspect of care and service design through better participation and regular feedback and outcome monitoring. At present, 78% of young people aged under 19 are covered by CAMHS partnerships which are working to transform services by embedding the CYP IAPT principles, and the programme is being rolled out to cover the whole of England by 2018. The programme is currently developing a number of new curricula to address training gaps that have been identified during its implementation. These include interventions for 0-5 year olds, evidence-based counselling, combination therapy (pharmacology and psychological interventions), Learning Disabilities and Autistic Spectrum disorder, and staff working in inpatient settings. A recent rapid deep dive audit of 12 partnerships within the programme showed:― improved access through self-referral routes, single point of access, outreach services, evening and weekend appointments;― compared to a national sample of mental health services in the United States, teams in services working with CYP IAPT had more proficient organisational cultures and more functional organisations;― more efficient time between referral and assessment decreased by 73%;― number of days between assessment and discharge decreased by 21%; and― The percentage of closed cases by mutual agreement increased by 22%.

Mental Illness: Carers

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the monetary value of (a) unpaid care provided to people with mental health issues and (b) the support to these carers by the NHS in each of the last five years.

Alistair Burt: The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health, the report of the independent Mental Health Taskforce, was published by NHS England on 15 February 2016. The report includes details of an analysis commissioned by NHS England which found that the national cost of dedicated mental health support and services totals £34 billion. It also noted that if all hours of care provided by unpaid carers to people with mental health issues were instead provided by paid staff, the cost would be approximately £14 billion (this is included in the £34 billion total). The Taskforce report is available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/mentalhealth/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2015/09/fyfv-mental-hlth-taskforce.pdf Separately, a 2013 report by the Office of National Statistics valued informal care provided in the United Kingdom at £61.7 billion per year (as an output of household production), although it is not possible to identify within this unpaid care specifically provided to people with mental health issues. The Government recognises the invaluable contribution made by unpaid carers and the importance of supporting them in their caring roles. We have also made an additional £400 million available to the National Health Service between 2011 and 2015 to provide carers with breaks from their caring responsibilities to sustain them in their caring role. The equivalent annual allocation of £130 million for carers breaks is now included in the Better Care Fund. In May 2014, NHS England published its action plan NHS England – Commitment to carers, it includes a series of commitments around eight priorities. NHS England launched new commissioning guidelines in December 2014 entitled Commissioning for Carers: Principles and resources to support effective commissioning for adult and young carers. NHS support represents only one form of Government support for carers. We continue to support the improved rights for carers enshrined in the Care Act 2014. This includes a right to an assessment on the appearance of needs for support that will look at a carer’s wellbeing in their own right and what support they may need in their caring role. The Department has provided £104 million of funding to local authorities for these rights in 2015/16. The Department is also leading the development of a new cross-Government National Carers Strategy that will look at what more we can do to support existing carers and those of the future.

Mental Health: Disadvantaged

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the foreword of the NHS Mental Health Taskforce report, The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health, published in February 2016, what steps he is taking to ensure that tackling poverty and inequalities are a core part of his Department's mental health strategy.

Alistair Burt: We welcome the publication of the independent Mental Health Taskforce report and we will work with NHS England and other health bodies to embed the recommendations into our work programmes. We recognise the inequalities that may be experienced by people from lower socio-economic groups both in terms of exposure to risk factors for poor mental health and accessing mental health services and their experiences of mental health services when they do access care. We will be working with stakeholders to ensure we are addressing inequalities issues including those identified in the Mental Health Taskforce report.

Mental Health: Research

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to implement the six priorities of the Roadmap for Mental Health Research in Europe.

Ben Gummer: In their report, published on 15 February, the Mental Health Taskforce recommended that the United Kingdom should aspire to be a world leader in the development and application of new mental health research. The Taskforce also recommended that mental health research should follow the Roadmap for Mental Health Research in Europe, published in September 2015. The Taskforce asked specifically that the Department, working with relevant partners, should publish a report by February 2017 setting out a 10 year strategy for mental health research. Departmental officials have already met with the Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust, the mental health research charity MQ, and other charities to re-establish arrangements for a more determined approach to co-ordination of mental health research. The next meeting is planned to take place in early April, and developing the 10-year strategy will be a key item on the agenda.

Small Businesses: Tobacco

Mr David Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will commission an independent assessment of the cumulative effect of all tobacco control measures on small businesses introduced since 1 January 2006.

Mr David Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of each tobacco control measure introduced in the last decade on small businesses; and whether those effects were in line with the assessment as set out in the original impact assessment.

Mr David Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to commission an independent assessment of the effect of any new tobacco control measures on small businesses prior to their introduction.

Jane Ellison: The Department assesses the impact of all proposed measures before laying legislation using standard government methodology. These assessments are set out in Impact Assessments which are scrutinised by the Regulatory Policy Committee before publication alongside the Statutory Instrument. Impact Assessments specifically look at the impacts on small and micro businesses. A number of the tobacco measures contain commitments to further review the impact of the legislation within five years of them coming into force. The Department assesses the impact of tobacco control measures on an ongoing basis as it develops policy and considers new measures. In September 2013, the Department published An Audit of the impact of the Department of Health’s Regulations upon business. A copy of the report is attached. The Audit report covered all regulations for which the Department has responsibility believed to have a potential cost to business, including those relating to tobacco control. As advised in the report, there is a robust cost-benefit case for the tobacco control regulations considered and experience shows that initiatives to reduce smoking prevalence work best in combination, with cumulative effects over time.



Audit report
(PDF Document, 950.61 KB)

Health: Urban Areas

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the organisations that applied to the Healthy New Towns programme.

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information his Department collects on applications to the Healthy New Towns programme.

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many applications to the Healthy New Towns programme were made from each region.

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many applications to the Healthy New Towns programme were made from each local authority area.

Jane Ellison: The Department does not hold information on the applications to the Healthy New Towns programme.

NHS: Drugs

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will ensure that the conclusions of appraisals currently being undertaken by NICE are revisited in the light of the conclusions of the Accelerated Access Review: Interim Report, published October 2015.

Ben Gummer: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is an independent body responsible for developing its guidance in line with its published methods and processes. It will be for NICE to consider the impact of any relevant recommendations from the Accelerated Access Review on its guidance – either published or in development.

NHS England: Deloitte

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2016 to Question 26284, what steps NHS England has taken to deal with potential conflicts of interests in the support offered by Deloitte to the development of its clinical commissioning policies; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Gummer: Deloitte is contracted to provide consultancy and advice to NHS England in support of its policy development programme for commissioned specialised services. Deloitte is acting in an advisory capacity only and all decisions and governance processes associated with the policy development and adoption process have been retained by NHS England. Where there has been potential for commercial in confidence information, this data and any associated analysis has been handled by NHS England alone.

Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 9 February 2016 to Question 25939, what proportion of the income from estimated Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme payments for 2016-17 will be brought forward from estimated payments due in (a) 2017-18 and (b) 2018-19.

Ben Gummer: The Government announced in December 2015 that the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) payment percentage for the 2016 calendar year is 7.80%. This represents an increase of 2.64 percentage points as a result of the addendum to the PPRS agreed with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry and published alongside the 2016 payment percentage. The income brought forward to 2016 as a result of this agreement will depend on a number of factors, including total branded medicine sales to the National Health Service over the course of the year.

NHS England: Deloitte

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2016 to Question 26284, on NHS England: Deloitte, what the overall value of the contract is.

Ben Gummer: Due to the need to safeguard commercial-in-confidence information, we are unable to provide this information, as to do so risks materially affecting NHS England’s ability to secure value for money in any subsequent procurement.

NHS England: Deloitte

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2016 to Question 26284, on what date NHS England took the decision to seek external consultancy support for the development of its clinical commissioning policies; whether the contract for external consultancy support for the development of NHS England's clinical commissioning policies was competitively tendered; who in NHS England took the decision to award the contract to Deloitte; what discussions his officials have had with NHS England on the contract with Deloitte since 1 January 2016; what the subject of those discussions was; and which clinical commissioning policies are being developed by NHS England.

Ben Gummer: NHS England decided to seek external support to supplement in-house capacity to deliver its clinical commissioning policy programme for specialised services in early 2015. The recommendation for contract award followed consideration by the Efficiency Controls Committee, which is a subcommittee of NHS England's Board. This was subject to ministerial sign off. Following the completion and approval of a business case by NHS England’s Efficiency Controls Committee, a competitive tendering process was undertaken within the Department of Health’s Framework Agreement. A contract award was subsequently made in September 2015, following ministerial approval. NHS England has not published a list of the clinical commissioning policies under development in 2015/16. However, individual clinical commissioning policy proposals are made available through NHS England’s website once they have met NHS England’s governance gateways and have been agreed as ready for public consultation, together with a range of supporting information including a clinical evidence review and impact assessment. While the Department approved the initial procurement of these services, they have not been involved in official discussions with NHS England regarding the contract since 1 January 2016.

Smoking

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2016 to Question 27774, if his Department will take steps to ensure the funding for local smoking cessation services is maintained in (a) Barnsley Central constituency, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) the UK.

Jane Ellison: Local councils will receive £16 billion over the next five years for public health and have a duty to consider how best to respond to local public health challenges. Public Health England provides a range of resources to support councils in developing of tobacco control programmes. Decisions on commissioning services are for local councils.

NHS Trusts: Finance

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2016 to Question 25603, on NHS: Finance, how many meetings Monitor and the NHS Trust Development Authority has had with NHS trusts to agree plans to improve the financial position of those trusts since 5 February 2016.

Ben Gummer: As part of Monitor and the NHS Trust Development Authority’s fundamental roles, they have regular contact with all trusts and foundation trusts regarding financial planning. This contact is undertaken in various ways from face to face meetings with senior leaders to larger scale events.